Method and Device for Evaluation of Eyelashes

1. A method of determining whether a natural eyelash of a plurality of natural eyelashes of a subject is suitable for extension using at least one camera configured to observe the plurality of natural eyelashes, a robotic mechanism configured to probe the plurality of natural eyelashes and a controller configured to receive data from the at least one camera and communicate with the robotic mechanism, the method comprising: measuring a geometric parameter of the natural eyelash with the at least one camera; comparing the geometric parameter against an acceptable value; and determining, using the controller, whether the natural eyelash is suitable for application of an artificial eyelash extension based on the comparison.

2. The method of claim 1 , further comprising: determining, based on the comparison, whether the natural eyelash is comprised of multiple natural eyelashes; and if the natural eyelash is comprised of multiple natural eyelashes, determining that the natural eyelash is not suitable for extension.

3. The method of claim 1 , wherein the at least one camera includes a first camera and a second camera, the method further comprising: imaging the natural eyelash with the first camera to produce a first image; and imaging the natural eyelash with the second camera to produce a second image, wherein measuring the geometric parameter includes measuring a depth of the natural eyelash based on an apparent disparity between the first and second images, and comparing the geometric parameter includes comparing the depth against an acceptable depth value.

4. The method of claim 1 , wherein measuring the geometric parameter includes measuring the geometric parameter at multiple points along the natural eyelash to generate a distributed geometric parameter, and comparing the geometric parameter includes comparing the distributed geometric parameter against acceptable values.

5. The method of claim 1 , further comprising: probing the plurality of natural eyelashes with a robotic end effector of a robotic mechanism; displacing a first subset of the plurality of natural eyelashes with the robotic end effector; and after displacing the first subset, repeating the measurement of the geometric parameter.

6. The method of claim 5 , wherein the robotic end effector comprises a first probe, the robotic mechanism further includes a second probe, and the robotic mechanism is configured to controllably displace the first and second probes with respect to one another, the method further comprising: adjusting a displacement between the first and second probes to be on the same scale as a diameter of an eyelash; plunging the first and second probes through the plurality of natural eyelashes; and increasing the displacement between the first and second probes such that a second subset of the plurality of natural eyelashes remains between the first and second probes at a lower density than a remainder of the plurality of natural eyelashes.

7. The method of claim 6 , further comprising repeating the steps of adjusting the displacement, plunging the first and second probes, and increasing the displacement until at least one eyelash is determined to be suitable for extension.

8. The method of claim 5 , wherein the robotic end effector comprises a first probe, and the robotic mechanism further includes a second probe, the method further comprising: displacing the first probe through the plurality of natural eyelashes; translating the first probe along the plurality of natural eyelashes; displacing the second probe through the plurality of natural eyelashes; and translating the second probe in an opposite direction of the first probe such that a second subset of the plurality of natural eyelashes remains between the first and second probes.

9. The method of claim 1 , further comprising: brushing the plurality of natural eyelashes with a robotic end effector of a robotic mechanism; and after brushing the plurality of natural eyelashes, repeating the measurement of the geometric parameter.

10. The method of claim 1 further comprising, prior to measuring the geometric parameter: a) imaging the plurality of natural eyelashes with the at least one camera; b) computing a spatial position of the plurality of natural eyelashes; and c) attempting to isolate the natural eyelash with the robotic mechanism.

11. The method of claim 10 , wherein the at least one camera includes two cameras.

12. The method of claim 1 , wherein: measuring the geometric parameter includes imaging the natural eyelash with the at least one camera to create an image; and comparing the geometric parameter against the acceptable value includes submitting the image to a neural network.

13. The method of claim 12 , wherein the neural network is trained using a plurality of images of natural human eyelashes.

14. The method of claim 13 , wherein the plurality of images includes images of singleton eyelashes, crossed eyelashes, and stacked eyelashes.

15. The method of claim 12 , further comprising: measuring a geometric parameter of the natural eyelash with the at least one camera; comparing the geometric parameter against an acceptable value; and determining whether the natural eyelash is suitable for extension based on the comparison.

16. The method of claim 12 , wherein the neural network is trained using a plurality of images created by a deep generator network.

17. A device configured to determine whether a natural eyelash of a plurality of natural eyelashes of a subject is suitable for extension, the device comprising: a computer vision system configured to observe the plurality of natural eyelashes; a robotic mechanism configured to probe the plurality of natural eyelashes; and a controller configured to communicate with the robotic mechanism, wherein the device is configured to: a) image the plurality of natural eyelashes with the computer vision system; b) compute a spatial position of the plurality of natural eyelashes; c) attempt to isolate the natural eyelash with the robotic mechanism; d) image the result of the attempt with the computer vision system; e) when the attempt is successful, determine that the natural eyelash is suitable for extension; and f) when the attempt is unsuccessful, repeat at least steps c and d.

18. The device of claim 17 , wherein the device is further configured to: measure a parameter of the natural eyelash with the computer vision system; compare the parameter against an acceptable value; determine, based on the comparison, whether the natural eyelash is comprised of multiple natural eyelashes; and when the natural eyelash is comprised of multiple natural eyelashes, determine that the natural eyelash is not suitable for extension.

19. The device of claim 17 , wherein the computer vision system includes at least two cameras.

20. The device of claim 17 , wherein the device is further configured to: measure a geometric parameter of the natural eyelash with the computer vision system; compare the geometric parameter against an acceptable value; and verify isolation of the natural eyelash based on the comparison.

21. The device of claim 20 , wherein the computer vision system is a camera, said device further comprising a neural network to which the result is submitted for comparison to an acceptable value.

22. The device of claim 17 , wherein the computer vision system is configured to measure a parameter of the natural eyelash at multiple points along the natural eyelash to generate a distributed parameter, and the device is further configured to: compare the distributed parameter against acceptable values; and determine whether isolation has occurred based on the comparison.

23. The device of claim 17 , wherein the robotic mechanism includes a first probe and a second probe, and the robotic mechanism is configured to: displace the first probe through the plurality of natural eyelashes; translate the first probe along the plurality of natural eyelashes; displace the second probe through the plurality of natural eyelashes; and translate the second probe in an opposite direction of the first probe such that a subset of the plurality of natural eyelashes remains between the first and second probes.